Temporary approval of relative, friend or other person connected with C
24.—(1) Where the responsible authority is satisfied that—
(a)the most appropriate placement for C is with a connected person, notwithstanding that the connected person is not approved as a local authority foster parent, and
(b)it is necessary for C to be placed with the connected person before the connected person’s suitability to be a local authority foster parent has been assessed in accordance with the 2002 Regulations,
they may approve that person as a local authority foster parent for a temporary period not exceeding 16 weeks (“temporary approval”) provided that they first comply with the requirements of paragraph (2).
(2) Before making a placement under paragraph (1), the responsible authority must—
(a)assess the suitability of the connected person to care for C, including the suitability of—
(i)the proposed accommodation, and
(ii)all other persons aged 18 and over who are members of the household in which it is proposed that C will live,
taking into account all the matters set out in Schedule 4,
(b)consider whether, in all the circumstances and taking into account the services to be provided by the responsible authority, the proposed arrangements will safeguard and promote C’s welfare and meet C’s needs set out in the care plan, and
(c)make immediate arrangements for the suitability of the connected person to be a local authority foster parent to be assessed in accordance with the 2002 Regulations (“the full assessment process”) before the temporary approval expires.
(3) In this regulation “connected person” means a relative, friend or other person connected with C.